Chapter Thirteen: Shopping

Ji Xun sat on the donkey cart, gazing at the monsters along the roadside, utterly amazed by the sights before him.

These creatures came in all imaginable forms, strange and marvelous. To the west, a fish demon was selling fish.

"Don't miss out as you pass by—these are all my kin, with the potential to become true monsters."

Both people and monsters nearby seemed accustomed to such scenes. In the eyes of the demon race, wild beasts that had not yet become monsters were not considered their kind at all. Some human cultivators shared this sentiment.

"Freshly pulled elephant tusk! This is my own father's tusk, guaranteed authentic, selling cheap, cheap, cheap!"

So filial, even to the death of the elephant.

"My family's ancestral bezoar, ten taels of demon silver per piece—bulk purchase negotiable."

Impressive—did this ox demon have some recipe to grow gallstones every day?

"Shape-shifting fruit, shape-shifting fruit! If it doesn't taste good, you don't have to pay!"

Ji Xun could not contain himself at this, for the monkey demon was selling wild mountain fruits as shape-shifting fruits, and pig demons were actually buying them.

Many demons, feeling their bodies too heavy and unwieldy, found it inconvenient to practice magical arts and so sought out shape-shifting fruits. After consuming them, they could switch between human and monster forms and even cultivate suitable human techniques.

At that moment, a snake demon noticed the corner of a Hundred Beasts Herb peeking from Ji Xun's cart. With a sharp eye, it also discerned that Old Master Lin was in charge.

"Are you selling that Hundred Beasts Herb?"

Old Master Lin waved his hand. "I've already arranged a buyer."

"Ah, what a pity," the snake demon replied, seeming a bit disappointed.

There were few snake demons among the roadside vendors, as most snakes did not consider trade a proper livelihood. In the Serpent Kingdom, most official positions and minor bureaucratic posts prioritized the recruitment of snake demons.

Other reasons existed as well. For example, in the region surrounding Pingling County of Silver Prefecture, where Ji Xun lived, most land was fertile farmland. Serpent Kingdom officials had purchased large numbers of human and other demon slaves to serve as labor.

Some captured demons often attacked snake demons, but rarely the officials—instead, they targeted other snake demons. Their restrictive enchantments would not be triggered that way.

Eventually, the authorities intervened repeatedly, richly rewarding informants, executing many demon slaves, and replacing enchantments, temporarily easing the situation.

However, throughout the upper three counties of Silver Prefecture, the Serpent Kingdom had gained a notorious reputation. Few low-ranked snake demons were willing to come here.

The snake demons here were mostly local, unable to leave their homeland.

...

The party drove the donkey cart through the bustling market, arriving before a three-story apothecary.

Inside, the pharmacy was elegantly decorated, with the occasional waft of medicinal fragrance. An attendant with ox horns was sunning herbs.

Old Master Lin was helped down from the cart.

He called at the door, "Could you please fetch your manager? Tell him Lin Youmu has arrived."

Soon, an elder emerged from the shop, his age comparable to Old Master Lin's. Yet this old man was peculiar: his eyes blood-red, a pair of rabbit ears atop his head—a mixed-blood demon, unmistakably.

A rabbit-eared grandpa, indeed.

Their meeting was not emotional, but neither was it cold; they spoke like old acquaintances.

"Changshan, move the beast herb inside."

The party unloaded the Hundred Beasts Herb from the cart.

The rabbit-eared elder inspected the herbs, nodding in satisfaction.

"Yes, excellent quality. Old Lin, next time you harvest other medicinal plants, bring them to me. I’ll give you a fair price."

Old Master Lin replied, "Rest assured."

The village didn’t only grow Hundred Beasts Herb; there were other medicinal plants and rural produce.

The crops had been harvested last month, while most other medicinal herbs matured slowly, only gathered every few months.

Each harvest, the bulk was handed over to the county; the remainder was left for the village head to distribute.

The head would sell the surplus and share part of the proceeds with the villagers.

Expenses for one hundred and fifty households were not minor.

If the harvest was poor, the village would have to cover the shortfall itself.

...

"Let’s buy some quilts and winter clothing later. Dali, here, this is the account for the beast herb sale—you know many characters, you should be able to read it."

Old Master Lin handed him a piece of paper.

"No, reading this makes me dizzy. I’d like to look around town for a bit; let’s meet up later at the market," Ji Xun replied, yawning.

He understood Old Master Lin’s intentions: to groom him as the next village head. After all, Lin Changshan was too honest, unable to manage people.

Ji Xun was young and strong, had shown courage and integrity, and even gave away priceless blood ginseng.

Most importantly, he might become the Lin family's grandson-in-law.

But Ji Xun intended to leave this place eventually, unwilling to take over.

Old Master Lin hadn’t responded yet, but Lin Changshan was anxious.

"How can that be? There are so many demons in town—what if something happens to you alone?"

"Ahem, this market was organized by Master Mo of the town. No one would dare cause trouble. If Dali wants to explore, let him. Dali, go ahead, we’ll meet at the market gate at Shen hour."

Old Master Lin patted Lin Changshan’s shoulder, signaling him to be at ease.

"Alright, then at Shen hour. I’ll go look around first."

With farewells exchanged, Ji Xun departed.

"Father, didn't we agree Dali would help with the accounts, and later become village head? What if he leaves? And the town is so dangerous."

Old Master Lin shook his head. "No matter, don’t worry about Dali. He’ll be fine. Alas, he doesn’t wish to manage these hundred households—his ambitions lie elsewhere."

"If I push a little and spend some demon silver, perhaps I can arrange a job for him in town..."

...

Ji Xun wove through another lively market, arriving at the most prosperous part of the town.

He’d already investigated: here stood a merchants’ guild specializing in Xuan-grade items, and one could test cultivation aptitude as well.

After a short walk, he arrived before a pavilion.

Dragons and phoenixes carved everywhere, lifelike depictions of myriad monsters, the building rising five stories high. A plaque hung above the entrance.

On it, five bold characters: Golden Pearl Treasure Pavilion.

Two stone beasts flanked the door, faint golden light shining, barely conveying a sense of wealth.

“Rather gaudy, but it’s the largest in town.”

With that, Ji Xun returned the Ba Snake’s divine power from the Demon Refining Jar to his stomach, the beast blood essence to his heart.

His demonic aura was now chaotic, dominated by serpent energy.

Anyone ignorant of his true origins would almost believe him a serpent-blooded demon.

Upon entering the first floor, he saw several half-demon maidens—deer-blooded, sheep-blooded, fish-blooded.

It wasn’t that Ji Xun was particularly well-traveled; their appearances were simply unmistakable.

The deer-blooded girl had antlers, the sheep-blooded girl sported sheep horns, and the fish-blooded girl showed pale blue scales on her face.

Ji Xun entered, and his scattered demon aura made the three girls’ eyes light up.

After all, a serpent-blooded visitor might be related to some serpent lord.

Even if not kin, every power preferred to recruit serpent-blooded, for easier dealings with the government.

Unfortunately, the girls were disappointed; Ji Xun’s demon silver was barely enough to buy a low-grade Xuan artifact—no serpent lord, clearly.

"Sir, is there anything you need?" The deer-blooded girl, the most lively, hopped over eagerly.